Endocrinology: Substrate dependency of C19 conjugates in hirsute hyperandrogenic women and the influence of adrenal androgen

Serum C₁₉ conjugates, specifically 3-androstanediol glucuronide(3G), reflect peripheral androgen action through the actionof 5-reductase activity. The origin of 5-reduced C₁₉ conjugateshas been controversial and it has been suggested that they arederived primarily from adrenal androgens. We examined concentrationsof 3G, 3-androstanediol sulphate (3S), androsterone glucuronide(AoG) and androsterone sulphate (AoS) in 40 hirsute hyperandrogenicwomen. These patients were divided into four groups based uponindividual, combined or normal concentrations of the adrenalandrogens dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEAS) and 11-hydroxy-androstenedione.Testosterone, unbound testosterone and androstenedione weresimilar in these groups. Serum 3G was equally high in all groupsand was correlated significantly with hirsutism, while the otherconjugates were not. Androsterone glucuronide was raised inall groups but was higher in patients with raised DHEAS. Serum3S was raised in all groups and was higher where both adrenalandrogens were raised. Serum AoS was highly correlated withDHEAS. Serum 3G was correlated with unbound testosterone andandrostenedione but not with the adrenal androgens. The glucuronideconjugates were correlated with one another as were the sulphateconjugates but glucuronides and sulphates were not correlated.These data confirm ovarian and adrenal dependency of C₁₉ conjugates.Serum 3G appears to reflect hirsutism most accurately and isleast dependent on adrenal androgens in patients with mixedhyperandrogenism.